|
The Trump administration, under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, has announced it is planning to repeal a Biden-era Bureau of Land Management rule that affirmed conservation as a valid use of public land under the 1976 Federal Lands Policy Management Act and put it on par with activities like drilling, logging, grazing, and mining.
The Public Lands Rule, also known as the Conservation & Landscape Health Rule, was finalized in 2024 and enables public land to be leased explicitly for environmental restoration efforts.
In yesterday's announcement, Burgum falsely claimed the rule threatens extractive and recreational access to public lands. Meanwhile, Burgum is traveling across Greece and Italy, striking deals on behalf of oil and gas companies.
“If Secretary Burgum spent more time in the West, he’d understand how conservation fits into everything the Bureau of Land Management does,” Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities, said. “Hunters, anglers, hikers and backpackers all praised the public lands rule because it helps ensure access to public lands for future generations.”
A public comment analysis completed by the Center for Western Priorities found near universal support for the Public Lands Rule. The BLM will hold a 60-day public comment period before any formal changes are enacted.
|
The losers are the American people... The American people rely on the federal government to manage these lands for everybody, and conservation is part of that.”
